Eric Cantona: a tribute
- Thread starter Bozza
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Italiaseagull
New member
Le god! 
Muzzman
Pocket Rocket
Could have done with one of Cantona's 'specials' last season.
desprateseagull
New member
have the video somewhere...
have a look at geocities.com/crofterscan
in 20 mins or so....
have a look at geocities.com/crofterscan
in 20 mins or so....
brighton rock
New member
What happened next?
Interview by Dee O'Connell
Sunday September 29, 2002
The Observer
Name: Matthew Simmons
Date: 26 January 1995
Place: London
Facts: Football fan Matthew Simmons, 27, was attacked by Eric Cantona at a Crystal Palace versus Manchester United match. The newspapers at the time reported that Simmons had taunted Cantona from the stands, and the case went to court. Simmons was imprisoned following an outburst during the trial. Now a father of one, he works in the construction trade, and continues to attend football matches.
Taking on Eric Cantona is like Torquay playing Arsenal. You know what the result is going to be beforehand. Even though I don't think I was doing anything against the law or untoward during the match, my body language probably wasn't very helpful, especially as I was at the front. I'm quite calm and laid-back now, but I was different then. To be honest, Cantona's attack wasn't that bad. I've said this all along, but I don't think people picked up on it because it wasn't dramatic enough. It didn't hurt and it was over in seconds. I'm not trying to be macho, but that's the way it was. Worse has happened to me.
The police made an appointment for Eric Cantona to go to the station at a later date, saying that they didn't want to arrest him that night because they were afraid of trouble at the ground. I did go to the police station that night and I wish now that I hadn't. I wish I had gone home and sat down with a cup of tea and thought about what I was going to say. What happened after that is a blur. The case ended up in court. It didn't go very well, and I wish I had been wise enough to do things differently. One thing that didn't go in my favour was the company I used to keep when I was younger. I was a Jack the Lad, and that must have raised some questions about me. I had done a few things in my youth that I'm not proud of, and if that hadn't happened, I might have been viewed differently. It all got a bit tense in the court room, and I deserved to be sent to prison for having a go at the lawyer.
I stayed in prison for one night of my sentence. The chef at Highdown Prison cooked an excellent curry, and I had a good night's sleep because there was no press around me for the first time in a long time. I wish I could have stayed a bit longer.
The man I was working for as a double-glazing fitter let me go, and it was very hard to get more work. I'm good at my job, but that was irrelevant because of what happened. A few months after the court case, a friend said his company was looking for someone to do odd jobs, so I thought, even though it might not be the best of jobs, it would give me a chance to get my life back in order. I think I fooled myself into thinking I could work my way up the ladder, even slowly, but it didn't happen. My bosses were sending everyone on courses and I was the only one who was asking and not going. I stuck it out because I was at night school and I knew that once I got my qualification I wouldn't have to rely on them any more. No one said anything to my face about the incident; I suppose they didn't want people talking about it, but I would prefer it if people did say it to my face. Instead, they would arrange things to do together without telling me, and I felt they were talking about me behind my back. My life was a little bit miserable at the time. I stayed with them for about five years before starting to work for myself.
I started going out with a new girlfriend not long after the case, and we had a baby about a year later. Unfortunately, things didn't work out between us. I don't know if the incident was the only reason we broke up, but it certainly put a lot of pressure on her. Having my son is a brilliant experience, but it gives me mixed emotions. I'm very happy in his company and he's a lovely child, but I'm a bit ashamed about the way it's worked out with his mum, because I believe there's a right way to do things when it comes to children. I wish we could have brought him up in a proper, married environment, and maybe that's my fault. I live at my mother's, and one of the reasons I stay on there is because of my son. He's five now and it's important that he can always go there.
A lot of friends and some members of my family haven't spoken to me since the incident. It doesn't upset me, because it's good to know who's going to be there for you when it matters, and who's not. They just haven't made any contact, and that's fine by me.
I had a season ticket at Crystal Palace and they asked me to give it back. I didn't mind because the team was rubbish, and some people at the ground want to befriend me because they think I'm something I'm not. I've been back a few times since with a friend, but I'd rather stay away from there. I do go to other football matches; I was a bit paranoid when I started going again. I thought people were looking at me when they weren't.
Lately, life is alright. I'm a bricklayer by trade, and I did a City and Guilds apprenticeship just over a year ago, so I have a qualification. I want to go back to college next year to further my education, and I can pick and choose when I work because I'm self-employed. Eventually, I want to do something to help people who are stuck in a rut like I was. My friends don't mention what happened to me, and I have a circle of them who all have children, so we do things together. I really wish I could have cleared my name, though. One day my son is going to ask me what happened, and I don't know what I'm going to say to him.
__________________
But owl went on and on using longer and longer words until at last he came back to where he started...
Interview by Dee O'Connell
Sunday September 29, 2002
The Observer
Name: Matthew Simmons
Date: 26 January 1995
Place: London
Facts: Football fan Matthew Simmons, 27, was attacked by Eric Cantona at a Crystal Palace versus Manchester United match. The newspapers at the time reported that Simmons had taunted Cantona from the stands, and the case went to court. Simmons was imprisoned following an outburst during the trial. Now a father of one, he works in the construction trade, and continues to attend football matches.
Taking on Eric Cantona is like Torquay playing Arsenal. You know what the result is going to be beforehand. Even though I don't think I was doing anything against the law or untoward during the match, my body language probably wasn't very helpful, especially as I was at the front. I'm quite calm and laid-back now, but I was different then. To be honest, Cantona's attack wasn't that bad. I've said this all along, but I don't think people picked up on it because it wasn't dramatic enough. It didn't hurt and it was over in seconds. I'm not trying to be macho, but that's the way it was. Worse has happened to me.
The police made an appointment for Eric Cantona to go to the station at a later date, saying that they didn't want to arrest him that night because they were afraid of trouble at the ground. I did go to the police station that night and I wish now that I hadn't. I wish I had gone home and sat down with a cup of tea and thought about what I was going to say. What happened after that is a blur. The case ended up in court. It didn't go very well, and I wish I had been wise enough to do things differently. One thing that didn't go in my favour was the company I used to keep when I was younger. I was a Jack the Lad, and that must have raised some questions about me. I had done a few things in my youth that I'm not proud of, and if that hadn't happened, I might have been viewed differently. It all got a bit tense in the court room, and I deserved to be sent to prison for having a go at the lawyer.
I stayed in prison for one night of my sentence. The chef at Highdown Prison cooked an excellent curry, and I had a good night's sleep because there was no press around me for the first time in a long time. I wish I could have stayed a bit longer.
The man I was working for as a double-glazing fitter let me go, and it was very hard to get more work. I'm good at my job, but that was irrelevant because of what happened. A few months after the court case, a friend said his company was looking for someone to do odd jobs, so I thought, even though it might not be the best of jobs, it would give me a chance to get my life back in order. I think I fooled myself into thinking I could work my way up the ladder, even slowly, but it didn't happen. My bosses were sending everyone on courses and I was the only one who was asking and not going. I stuck it out because I was at night school and I knew that once I got my qualification I wouldn't have to rely on them any more. No one said anything to my face about the incident; I suppose they didn't want people talking about it, but I would prefer it if people did say it to my face. Instead, they would arrange things to do together without telling me, and I felt they were talking about me behind my back. My life was a little bit miserable at the time. I stayed with them for about five years before starting to work for myself.
I started going out with a new girlfriend not long after the case, and we had a baby about a year later. Unfortunately, things didn't work out between us. I don't know if the incident was the only reason we broke up, but it certainly put a lot of pressure on her. Having my son is a brilliant experience, but it gives me mixed emotions. I'm very happy in his company and he's a lovely child, but I'm a bit ashamed about the way it's worked out with his mum, because I believe there's a right way to do things when it comes to children. I wish we could have brought him up in a proper, married environment, and maybe that's my fault. I live at my mother's, and one of the reasons I stay on there is because of my son. He's five now and it's important that he can always go there.
A lot of friends and some members of my family haven't spoken to me since the incident. It doesn't upset me, because it's good to know who's going to be there for you when it matters, and who's not. They just haven't made any contact, and that's fine by me.
I had a season ticket at Crystal Palace and they asked me to give it back. I didn't mind because the team was rubbish, and some people at the ground want to befriend me because they think I'm something I'm not. I've been back a few times since with a friend, but I'd rather stay away from there. I do go to other football matches; I was a bit paranoid when I started going again. I thought people were looking at me when they weren't.
Lately, life is alright. I'm a bricklayer by trade, and I did a City and Guilds apprenticeship just over a year ago, so I have a qualification. I want to go back to college next year to further my education, and I can pick and choose when I work because I'm self-employed. Eventually, I want to do something to help people who are stuck in a rut like I was. My friends don't mention what happened to me, and I have a circle of them who all have children, so we do things together. I really wish I could have cleared my name, though. One day my son is going to ask me what happened, and I don't know what I'm going to say to him.
__________________
But owl went on and on using longer and longer words until at last he came back to where he started...
perth seagull
Well-known member
- Jul 5, 2003
- 5,487
The idiot deserved what he got.
brighton rock
New member
Sam
Formerly "Sambo"
what an idiot
Cheeky Monkey
Well-known member
- Jul 17, 2003
- 24,005
It's frightening to think that that took place nearly a decade ago!!
Dropkick Turnip
Member
Bozza said:
After I checked it turns out it was Buzza. Maybe you're the same person or maybe you're as confused as me
Dropkick Turnip
Member
Tooting Gull said:
See above Tooting
